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The spokesman was unconvinced. ‘You’ve got some koya-covered balls to wander alone into the greatest kambí in all Katáne.’
As his companions sniggered, Killen took a breath. ‘I’m here at the invitation of one of your generals.’
The Krypós captain reared back its gold and black krested skull in surprise. ‘Who would that be?’
Killen braced himself, lifting his chin. ‘Kaxim, also called Sky Ash, interim Commander of the elite Ka?'m??r? Sab?r Hawks of the Kainôs Army.’
Stunned silence fell for a moment, followed by screeching and snickering howls.
‘Oh, you’re a fokkin’ laugh, stranger.’
‘He has no time for hawklings like yourself.’
The caterwauls of glee continued for a moment longer until Killen sent a command to his hawkstone.
The Kärds’ amusement died in an instant, and they exchanged looks, puzzled at the sudden change in their demeanour.
‘Take me to Sky Ash.’ Killen’s quiet rasp rang over the dale.
The sentry’s spokesman growled. ‘All reports are that he is away. You cannot meet with him.’
Killen tilted his head, his eyes alight with curiosity. ‘I have it good authority he is no more than a few hours away from the camp.’
The lead Kärd snapped his beak at him. ‘How can he be? He’s off planet. Hunting the usurper, the one they purport to have killed the Kíríga.’
Killen raised a brow, speaking in a wheedling tone. ‘I’ve heard of this self-appointed King. Any sighting yet? Maybe I can take him on in battle and save Katáne from all the flustered feathers and screeches of chagrin being fluffed up by his audacity?’
A second sentry guffawed. ‘Take him on, my ass plumes! You really do have plex steel testicles. As for the usurper, he’s in the wind. Evading the furious K?'nere high society who lost entire Hawk K?sts in the recent skirmish on Devansi. They’ve even set on him their hired arokí with their curses and hoodoo.’
The Kärds exchanged looks and shook their wings in fake fear before convulsing in more laughter.
When their amusement died down, the lead Kärd had a thought, raking his eyes over Killen. ‘Where did you chance on Kaxim? It is rare for a general of his standing to mingle with someone of your status.’
Killen hid a smile. ‘Let’s say he was acquainted with my grandfather and our eyrie. I don’t think he’d take it well if you blocked my passage.’
The lead eagle’s eyes narrowed. ‘Kaxim does not suffer fools at all. So if you speak in jest, your throat will soon be spliced open, and your innards ripped out by just one thought command to his koya.’
Killen sent another wave of kusudi intent from his mind, and the Krypós Kärds’ leader blinked in surprise at the words that tripped next from his mouth. ‘We’ll guide you into the kambí, but you may await the General’s return for some time.’
‘I have the patience of a saint. I’ll hold out as long as I need for Sky Ash,’ Killen insisted. ‘And I’ll speak well of your generous passage and escort if you allow it. Should you not, it might be your innards that are torn out.’
‘Your funeral,’ the Krypós warrior conceded. ‘Move,’ he added.
After easing off the restraints on Killen’s wrists, the unlikely aerie set off at a low flight, feet just above the surface, swishing past the undergrowth, ducking branches and scrubbing.
The senior Kärd led the party through the dense wild fig and podocarpus forest.
Killen, too, used his wings, flanked by two of his escorts while three took the rear.
They passed under a series of massive skulls floating off mid-air, overflowing with black, glimmering tendrils of vapour. ‘Watch out for the kíma.’
Killen glanced at the apparitions with interest.
One of the guards caught his curiosity and leaned in to whisper. ‘They’re the skoltr of chimeric eagles strung around the camp to protect those who live therein. If you cross them without permission, the miasma of their kízakan sprays on you and destroys one’s plume to the nub with no mercy.’
Killen’s brow rose, and he ducked well under the malodorous display.
On they marched into a scrubland, following the flow of a flooded river from the lowlands and flat, semi-desert bush as it cut its way through the hills.
